Clamp-on table for lawn furniture



Jan. 19, 1965 SORENSEN 3,16

CLAMP-ON TABLE FOR LAWN FURNITURE Filed Aug. 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Arne Sarems'em ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1965 A, SORENSEN 3,166,354

CLAMP-0N TABLE FOR LAWN FURNITURE Filed Aug. 14. 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' J /6 Ii INVENTOR Ame Sorerzsen ATTORNEY Unitd States Patent 3,166,354 CLAMP-N TABLE FOR LAWN FURNITURE Arne Sorensen, 1845 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago, Ill. Filed Aug. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 216,863 3 Claims. (Cl. 297-194) This invention relates to a clamp-on table for lawn furniture, and more particularly to a clamp-on table adapted to be-attached to an arm of an article of lawn furniture. The table of this invention is particularly adapted to be clamped onto the arm of a folding lawn chair, and more particularly to such a chair known as a chaise lounge which when in use requires considerable area.

Since few lawn or terrace areas are truly level, it is found advisable to so design and construct a clamp-on table for such lawn furniture that it may be readily adjusted to be substantially horizontal after the chair is set up, regardless of slight slopes or irregularities of the surface on which this piece of furniture may rest.

An object of this invention is the provision of a clampon table for the arm of a lawn chair, or of a chaise lounge, which may be levelled to a substantially horizontal position when installed thereon.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a table for attachment to the arm of a lawn chair, or of a chaise lounge, which may be tilted to different horizontal positions.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a clamp-on table having novel means for supporting a removable table surface or tray.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of means to adjust the plane of the table in two angular directions in right angularly arranged vertical planes.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of a clamp-on table for use on a lawn chair or chaise lounge and adapted to be adjusted by one sitting on the chair to a substantially horizontal position to support food or drinks without likelihood of spilling.

These and other objects will become apparent from a consideration of the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts through out the several views:

FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of the clamp-on table mounted on the arm of a folding chaise lounge;

FIG. 2 is an exploded axonometrical view of the table of this invention;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation, on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 of the clamp-on table as mounted on the arm of a chaise lounge or chair and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation on the line 44 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plane view of the clamp-on table;

FIG. 6 is a section inverted, on the line 66 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section, inverted, on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary bottom plan view, and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary section, inverted, on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8, showing a modification, providing tray adjustment at substantially right angles to the adjustment provided in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the table 10 of this invention is shown as mounted on an arm 12 on a chaise lounge 14. The arm 12 is shown as parallel tubular members 16, 18, though it may be a solid bar of Wood or metal or a metal stamping. As shown in FIGS. 2 t0 6, the table 10 includes a metal platform- 20, a removable table top 22, in

the form of a tray, and an adjustable clamp 24 hingedly mounted on the-underside of the platform 20 by means of a hinge member 26, having a leaf 28 attached to the underside of the platform20 as by soldering or welding. The other leaf 30 of the hinge member 26 is suitably attached to the longer leg of an L-shaped plate 32. The plate 32 at the end opposite its shorter leg 34 terminates in an inwardly facing lazy-V 36 which is the fixed jaw of the clamp. The movable jaw includes a plate 38 which is slotted as at 40 to receive a pin 42 mounted in plate 32 whereby the plate 38 is slidably mounted on the fixed plate 32. The plate 38 is L-shaped with its shorter leg 44 parallel to the leg 34, and has on its other end an outwardly facing lazy-V 45 which constitutes the movable jaw 46 of the clamping means 24.

The means for adjusting the movable jaw 46 comprises a screw 48 rotatably mounted in the depending leg 44 and retained by suitable fastening means, such as washers. The screw 48 is threadedly engaged in a boss 56 mounted on the leg 34, and is provided with an operating knob 58.

A wing screw 60 is mounted in a boss 62 on the leg 34 and has a foot 64 engaging the underside of the platform 20. Heavy wire members 66 and 68, preferably of spring steel, are attached to the platform 20 as by spot welding at points such as 70 and 72 respectively. These members 66 and 68 have parallel legs 74, 76 and 78, 80 respectively, which are connected by cross wire portions 82 and 84 respectively. The legs 74, 76 and 78, 80 are bent inwardly toward each other so that they form with said cross wire portions inwardly facing lazy-V slips 82, 84 to receive and hold the table tray 22.

In the modification of FIGS. 8 and 9, a bracket is attached to the platform 20 and, adjacent the clip 84, is provided with a boss 92 to receive a screw 94 which has a foot 96 engageable with the underside of the crossbar 65.

In use, the clamp 24 is mounted on the arm of an article of lawn furniture such as a chair or a chaise lounge, by engaging the tubular members 16, 18 or other arm rest members and being tightened thereon by turning the screw 48. A tray or other table top 22 is inserted in the clips 82 and 84. Should the surface on which the article of furniture rests be not level, the tray or table top may be adjusted to compensate for this by turning the screw 60 to tilt it in one direction. If required, slight adjustment at a right angle to the first direction of adjustment may be made by turning in the screw 94 and thus lifting one end of tray top 22 slightly by springing or straining the tray supporting legs 78, 80 vertically from the threaded boss end 92 of the bracket extension 90 of the platform 20 as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 9.

By reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 it will be noted that the arm bars 16 and 18 are shown in full lines in a normally horizontal position and in dotted lines to indicate irregularities in the support of the chair when on uneven ground and how the table top or tray in full lines must be supported therefrom to be truly horizontal.

Having thus described my invention, I desire it to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within the skill of the art and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A clamp-on mounting device for a tray-type table for mounting on an arm of an article of furniture, comprising a platform, an adjustable clamp for securing said platform on an arm of an article of furniture, hinge means connecting said platform on said clamp, tilt adjusting means mounted on said adjustable clamp and engaging said platform, a tray-type table member, spring means engaging said table member and said platform for releasably retaining said table member in operative position on said platform, and a second tilt adjusting means extending Patented Jan. 19, 1965 between said platform and table member for tilting said said spring clamping members away from the platform.

and hinge means connecting the. platform to the clamp.

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 277,803 Starr May 15, 1883 4 Baker Feb. 5, Selstad Oct. 27, Cole Aug, 7, Strodel Oct. 22, Gronsdahl Apr. 24, Swaisgood Mar. 24, Foulke June 17, Foote Feb. 16, Sheahan Jan. 6, Willson et a1 May 24, Barnard Aug. 1, Powell Nov. 14, Lange et a1. Apr. 2,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Great Britain Dec. 21, 

2. A TRAY MOUNTING FOR ARM CHAIRS COMPRISING A CLAMP FOR CLAMPING ON AN ARM CHAIR AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING A TRAY ON THE CLAMP FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT THEREON ABOUT AXES AT RIGHT ANGLES TO EACH OTHER. 